United States

The United States spans a continent—such diversity of landscape, culture, and climate that calling it a single destination understates reality. From Maine's rocky coast to Hawaii's volcanic beaches, from Alaska's Arctic wilderness to Florida's subtropical swamps, from New York's vertical density to Montana's horizontal emptiness.

The range exceeds what most countries contain across entire regions. Tourism infrastructure exists at every level—budget hostels to world-class luxury, fast food to Michelin-starred restaurants, national parks preserving wilderness to theme parks manufacturing fantasy.

Strong 2024 Recovery

The US continued tourism momentum:

- 72.4 million international visitors (+9.1% vs 2023) - 91% of 2019 pre-pandemic peak (79.4M) - $253.9 billion spending (+28.7% YoY—record) - NYC: 64.3 million visitors (record) - 2027 target: 90 million visitors

Top Source Markets 2024

Asia: Largest regional growth (+21.6% YoY).

Essential first stop for most international visitors—density, diversity, cultural institutions of world standing.

NYC 2024 Stats (Record Year)

64.3 million total visitors (13M international, 51.3M domestic).

$79 billion economic impact.

$51 billion direct spending.

83.9% hotel occupancy.

Must-See

Metropolitan Museum of Art: World-class collection spanning 5,000 years.

MoMA: Modern art excellence.

Broadway: World's theatrical capital.

Central Park: 843 acres of green amid Manhattan's verticality.

Neighborhoods: Greenwich Village, Harlem, Brooklyn Heights, Lower East Side—each distinct.

Top Entry Port

JFK Airport: 34.8 million international arrivals 2024 (US #1).

NYC airports: World's busiest airport system, 2,900+ weekly arrivals.

The West Coast

Los Angeles: Beaches, Hollywood mythology, Getty/LACMA museums, Western Hemisphere's most diverse city.

San Francisco: Natural beauty, urban sophistication, Golden Gate Bridge.

Pacific Coast Highway: Dramatic Big Sur coastline connecting them.

National Parks

America's best idea. Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion—wilderness of extraordinary beauty. Advance planning essential for permits/reservations.

Washington, D.C.

American political life. Smithsonian (19 free museums). Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Florida

Orlando: Theme parks (Disney, Universal)—21.5 million United Parks visitors 2024.

Miami: 4.76 million international arrivals 2024 (US #2 port of entry).

Other Highlights

Las Vegas, Hawaii, California wine country, New England fall foliage, Chicago, New Orleans.

ESTA (Visa Waiver Program)

Non-VWP citizens require embassy visa interview.

Even with ESTA, entry not guaranteed—immigration officers retain discretion.

Major Airports

JFK (New York): 34.8M international arrivals (US #1).

LAX (Los Angeles): 23.4M international arrivals (US #2).

MIA (Miami): Major Latin American hub.

Transport

US is car-centric. Outside NYC, SF, Chicago, Boston, DC—rental cars essential.

Distances vast: LA to NYC = 4,500 km.

Domestic flights: Connect distant cities efficiently.

Amtrak: Exists but slow compared to European rail.

Currency: US Dollar (USD). Cards accepted nearly everywhere.

Average international visitor spend 2024: $3,500 per visit.

Tipping (MANDATORY)

- Restaurants: 18-20% minimum - Bars: $1-2 per drink - Hotels: Housekeeping, porters - Failure to tip considered rude

American food reflects immigrant diversity:

Regional cuisines: New England seafood, Southern barbecue/soul food, Tex-Mex, Pacific Northwest seafood, Cajun, Hawaiian.

Global cuisines: Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, Indian—excellent in cities with immigrant communities.

Beyond fast food: World-class fine dining, craft breweries, farm-to-table movements, food trucks.

Portions large—splitting dishes or taking leftovers completely normal.

Smash Burger

American Classic

Thin, crispy-edged burger patties—diner perfection.

Ingredients: Ground beef (80/20), Brioche buns, American cheese, Pickles, onion, Special sauce (mayo, ketchup, relish), Salt, pepper.

Preparation: Form loose balls of beef. Then smash flat on screaming hot griddle. Season generously with salt and pepper. Flip when edges are crispy. Then add cheese, cover to melt. Finally, build on toasted bun with all toppings.

💡 Don't press the patty after smashing—that squeezes out juices.

BBQ Ribs

Slow-Smoked

Low and slow smoked pork ribs—American BBQ art.

Ingredients: 2 racks pork ribs (about 2kg). Dry rub: 60g brown sugar, 30g paprika, 15g cumin, 15g garlic powder, 10g salt, 5g black pepper. 240ml BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar spray, wood chips (hickory or apple).

Preparation: Remove membrane from ribs. After that, apply dry rub generously. Smoke at 107°C (225°F) for 5-6 hours. Then spritz with vinegar hourly. Wrap in foil last 2 hours if needed. To finish, sauce and char at end if desired.

💡 3-2-1 method: 3 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped, 1 hour sauced.

Apple Pie

American Icon

Double-crust apple pie—as American as. apple pie.

Ingredients: For crust: flour, butter, shortening, cold water, 6 apples, sliced, Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, Lemon juice, Butter, Egg wash.

Preparation: Make flaky pie crust, chill. Then mix apples with sugar and spices. Line pie dish with bottom crust. Fill with apples, dot with butter. Then top with second crust, crimp edges. Finally, bake 218°C (425°F) then 191°C (375°F) until golden.

💡 Mix butter and shortening for flaky, flavorful crust.

Major holidays see heavy domestic travel: Thanksgiving, Christmas, July 4th.

Healthcare expensive: Travel insurance with medical coverage essential. Hospital visit without insurance = thousands of dollars.

Gun culture: Firearms more visible than in most countries.

Driving: Some states allow right turn on red. Speed limits vary by state.

Sales tax: Not included in displayed prices (varies 0-10% by state).

Drinking age: 21 everywhere, strictly enforced.

1. ESTA required for VWP countries—apply 72+ hours before 2. Tipping mandatory—18-20% at restaurants 3. Rental car essential outside major cities 4. Travel insurance for healthcare coverage 5. Book national parks months in advance 6. Sales tax not included in prices 7. Distances vast—don't underestimate drive times 8. TSA screening can be slow—arrive 3 hours for international flights

The United States' 72.4 million international visitors in 2024—generating record $253.9 billion in spending—demonstrates enduring global appeal despite not yet reaching pre-pandemic peaks. New York City's record-breaking 64.3 million visitors and $79 billion economic impact confirm the city's magnetic pull on global travelers.

What makes America rewarding is scale and contradiction. The same country produces Yellowstone's geysers and Vegas's neon, New York's cultural institutions and Orlando's theme parks, Silicon Valley's innovation and Amish country's simplicity. No single visit exhausts it; Americans themselves spend lifetimes exploring without seeing everything.

For international travelers, the US offers familiar infrastructure with constant surprise. The language is (mostly) accessible, the systems work (mostly), and the diversity—of landscape, cuisine, culture, people—rewards those who venture beyond the obvious.

Last updated: December 2025

United States has 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: